sense of time

USAGE SUMMARY

"sense of time" is a perfectly acceptable part of a sentence in written English.
You could use it to refer to a person's ability to understand the passage of time, or to describe how someone perceives time. For example, you could say "She lacks any sense of time, always running behind schedule."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I lost all sense of time.

The New Yorker

I totally lost sense of time.

The New York Times

His sense of time seemed languid.

The New Yorker

The sense of time is inescapable.

The New Yorker

Some have lost their sense of time.

The New Yorker

Then I lose my sense of time.

The New York Times - Arts

An exact sense of time.

Princeton University

Our sense of time distorts.

Harvard Business Review

But my sense of time wasn't one.

Independent

Water imposes its own sense of time.

The New York Times

Their sense of time becomes distorted.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing abstract concepts like memory or perception, using "sense of time" can effectively convey a character's disorientation or altered state.

Common error

Avoid using "sense of time" when you actually mean someone's ability to manage their schedule or be punctual. Instead, use phrases like "time management skills" or "punctuality" to describe their organizational abilities.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sense of time" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often acting as the object of a verb or the complement of a preposition. It refers to the subjective awareness or perception of temporal passage. Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is grammatically acceptable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "sense of time" is a common and grammatically sound noun phrase used to describe an individual's awareness or perception of the passage of time. As Ludwig highlights, it frequently appears in contexts involving personal experiences, psychological states, and abstract concepts. Usage spans across various registers, with a leaning towards neutral and slightly formal contexts like news media and academic discourse. While alternatives like "perception of time" and "awareness of time" exist, "sense of time" maintains a balance of accessibility and precision for conveying one's subjective temporal experience. A key writing consideration is to avoid conflating it with time management skills.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

perception of time

Focuses on the cognitive process of understanding time, rather than a general awareness.

time perception

Another way to describe the cognitive processing of time.

awareness of time

Highlights the conscious recognition of the passage of time.

understanding of time

Emphasizes a cognitive grasp of temporal concepts.

feeling of time

Suggests an emotional or intuitive experience of time.

time consciousness

Emphasizes the state of being aware of time's passage.

internal clock

Refers to the biological or psychological mechanism that regulates one's sense of time.

temporal awareness

A more formal way of expressing an understanding of time.

chronological sense

Implies an ability to order events in time accurately.

personal time frame

Implies an individual's specific or unique experience of time.

FAQs

How can I use "sense of time" in a sentence?

You can use "sense of time" to describe someone's awareness or perception of time, as in "After the accident, he lost all "sense of time"" or "Children often have a different "sense of time" than adults".

What does it mean to have a distorted "sense of time"?

A distorted "sense of time" means that your perception of how quickly or slowly time is passing is altered, often due to stress, trauma, or certain substances. It can feel like time is speeding up or slowing down.

What's the difference between "perception of time" and "sense of time"?

"Perception of time" and "sense of time" are often used interchangeably, but "perception of time" is a more academic or scientific term referring to the cognitive processing of time, while "sense of time" is a more general and intuitive term for one's awareness of time's passage.

What are some related concepts to "sense of time" in psychology?

Related concepts include temporal awareness, time estimation, and subjective time. These concepts explore how individuals experience and judge the duration of events.